If you look at the map, you will see that The Solent is a 30 mile strip of sea between the Isle of Wight and Hampshire off the south coast of England. Look at in more detail however, and you will see that The Solent is an exhilarating sailing experience waiting for you to visit.

By virtue of its amazing diversity of history, sailing conditions, culture and scenery, The Solent provides a stunning sailing venue for yacht enthusiasts, and it can be as relaxing or exciting as you want to make it. Surrounded by areas of outstanding natural beauty and rich in maritime history, the "home of yachting" is world-renowned and truly unique.

Although the Romans apparently walked across the Solent at low tide, you need a boat of some kind these days, and what an amazing variety of "boats" you will see on any given day. The Solent hosts the home port of the Royal Navy, and is a major shipping route for container ships, cruise ships and both local and European ferries and hovercraft. In addition, you have an armada of yachts, catamarans, dinghies, jetskis, windsurfers and kitesurfers. Where else in the world can you have such a variety of vessels to look at or race with ? If that isn't enoough, just sail into Portsmouth Harbour and check out the Historic ships.

Chartering or hiring some kind of boat is the most practical way for the majority of people to sail in the Solent, and as you would expect from the "home of sailing" everybody is catered for. You may want to go fishing or you may want a corporate team-building exercise. You may want a white-knuckle rib ride or you might prefer a romantic cruise. It may be for a Solent stag party or a special family holiday. Whatever your objectives, budget and desires, there will be a yacht charter in the Solent avaliable.

The Solent has the largest concentration of yachts in the UK, and it follows therefore, that it also has the greatest number and variety of charter yachts available for hire at any given time. The range of boats availiable for hire is as diverse as the reasons people might hire them for from a basic rib to an unadulterated luxury yacht, and prices can start from as little as £20 a person. So whatever type of Solent yacht charter you require, the likeliehood is that it will be available.

You can choose between a skippered Solent yacht charter (where a skipper is provided for the duration of the charter) or a bareboat charter, where (subject to having sufficient sailing qualifications) you can "skipper" the yacht yourself. You can choose whether your yacht is wind or motor powered, and you can choose the scale of home comforts and facilities between fairly basic and unadulterated luxury. We would naturally be happy to advise on any aspect of your charter.

If you are thinking about a family sailing holiday for the first time, then it is recommended that you try a weekend Solent charter first of all, and if it is successful then book a longer sailing holiday the next time. Not everyone in the family may enjoy sailing as much as you do, and although the idea of sailing with the family for a whole week may sound appealling, it may just be too long for some members of the family, and then you could have a mutiny on your hands. Test the (Solent) waters with a weekend charter first, and then decide if their appetite for a full week has been well and truly whetted.

As for families above, we recommend the same for friends.Try a weekend yacht charter first. It is so easy to make the assumption that because you get on with some friends at work or on evenings out, a weeks yacht charter in the Solent together would be perfect. It may be, but it might not be either. Spending a whole week with somebody inside the relatively cramped condtions of a yacht with less privacy than you would like is a totally different scenario, and can break friendships instead of cementing them. Don't risk it. Book a weekend charter first to see how it works out.

There are many marine events in the Solent between Spring and Autumn, including Solent regattas (especially Cowes Week at the beginning of August), a visit from the Tall Ships, the start or finish of a round the world race, and the International Boat Show to name but a few. These are particularly popular for Corporate Events and team-building exercises, and prices are obviously higher and queues longer at these times, so it is recommended that you take these into consideration when planning your visit.

But whenever you come, and whoever you come with, remember that man does not live by sailing and scenery alone. He needs entertainment, food, drink and shopping, and there are abundant choices for all of these in Southampton, Portsmouth, and all of the other towns, villages and harbours and marinas that border The Solent, and no meal or drink tastes better than after a great days sailing. The list of features and attractions is endless, and we haven't even mentioned that you are only a few hours sailing from the Jurassic coast of Dorset, or about 12 hours sailing from France.

Book your Solent Yacht Charter soon at the "home of sailing".